Chamonix history episode 4, after Mont Blanc was conquered: The first luxury hotel was built in 1816 (The Hotel de lUnion), followed by la Couronne, le Royal and many more. In 1821, La Compagnie des Guides was created following an accident on the Mont Blanc. Until the end of the 19th century, mountain guides were the main economic power in Chamonix. The growth of tourism in the early 19th century led to the formation of the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix in 1821, to regulate access to the mountain slopes (which were communally or co-operatively owned), and this association held a monopoly of guiding from the town until it was broken by French government action in 1892; thereafter guides were required to hold a diploma issued by a commission dominated by civil servants and members of the French Alpine Club rather than local residents. However, from the beginning of the 20th century with the construction of numerous hotels, hoteliers become the predominant economic power in the valley. In 1860 a carriage road was built joining Geneva to Chamonix via Sallanches. In July 1901, the railway line that passes through the Chamonix valley was inaugurated. This opened the town to winter visitors. Between 1908 and 1910 Chamonix took on its present rhythm of winter and summer seasons. From the late 19th century on, tourist development was dominated by national and international initiatives rather than local entrepreneurs, though the local community was increasingly dependent upon and active in the tourist industry. The commune successfully lobbied to change its name from Chamonix to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in 1916. However, following the loss of its monopoly, the Compagnie reformed as an association of local guides, and retained an important role in local society; it provided the services of a friendly society to its members, and in the 20th century many of them were noted mountaineers and popularisers of mountain tourism, for example the novelist Roger Frison-Roche, the first member of the Compagnie not to be born in Chamonix. The holding of the first Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix in 1924 further raised Chamonixs profile as an international tourist destination. Skiing was introduced in Chamonix at the end of the 19th century by Dr Payot. The first big winter season was in 1906-07. Much of the initiative came from the Club Alpine Français which organized a local winter sports competition.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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